MISD offers rare driver’s ed class
By Sam Waller
Moran ISD appears to be one of just three school districts in the state offering students on-campus driver’s education, according to superintendent Dr. John Denson.
Moran has six students enrolled in the class, which is being taught by Jeff Blackburn.
Denson is aware of just two other districts offering the course as part of a high school curriculum.
The superintendent said students will receive classroom instruction during the fall semester before beginning driver training in the spring.
“Moran ISD is paying for the program,” he said. “We’re trying to offer opportunities to our students who may not be able to afford the course outside of school. We’re just trying to be a service to our community.”
Holiday Schedule
The Labor Day holiday is causing MISD to alter its schedule for next week in order to maintain four class days.
With school closed for the holiday on Monday, Sept. 5, Moran will conduct classes on Friday, Sept. 9.
“We’ll have a four-day weekend,” Denson said. “Then next week, we’ll go Tuesday through Friday. That will be our only Friday attendance through the end of the year.”
Denson said the move allows MISD more flexibility with the school calendar, such as making up for bad-weather days later in the year.
“Fridays will be our makeup days if we need them,” he said. “Having school next Friday keeps us on a steady four-day week. We have Monday-Wednesday classes and Tuesday-Thursday classes, and this will keep us on track as far as equal days for each class.”
Moran will have one day of Friday classes on Jan. 13, but the school year will end before Memorial Day.
“We’ll be here the first Friday after we come back from Christmas because that Monday (Jan. 9) is a teacher workday,” Denson said.
Getting Musical
Moran teacher Josh Ross met with students Monday, Aug. 29 to gauge interest in competing in UIL solo and ensemble competition.
Denson said most students expected to take part will do so as vocalists, but he held out the possibility of one or more playing instruments.
